'It's About Love'

Editor's note: The Daily Globe recently ran an "It's About Love" contest that asked readers to submit an essay sharing their Valentine's story. Mary Nemetz's essay was selected as the winner. She and her husband, John, picked up their prizes donated by various advertisers Friday.

Mary and John Nemetz got married in 1972 and will celebrate their 44th anniversary this June.

When Mary heard about the Daily Globe's "It's About Love" essay contest, she had never written a story like that, but something made her decide to do it.

"Every time I've told somebody how I met my husband, they always think it's such a neat story," Mary said.

"It's kind of unbelievable that that's how we met."

Mary and her husband-to-be met back when they were students at Michigan Tech and their life together fit the theme "It's About Love."

She said that now that they are retired, she has time to do things like this contest.

"I think I also wanted to show people that you can stick together after all these years. Marriage is a lot of work, but it's worth it," Mary said.

John used to be a teacher and when asked what he thought about her submitting their love story, Mary said he hadn't read it yet.

"He knows I submitted it. But I suppose now that we won I'll have to show it to him."

Mary said John has always been a helpful and supportive husband, doing his share of chores and taking care of their two kids while they were growing up.

"When I worked as a registered nurse, I used to tell my co-workers how much John helped and they would say, 'Well, can we rent him?'" Mary said.

"To this day, they still say, 'You know, I wish I could have John for a week.'"

John's caring and helpful personality trickled down to their children.

"This is a funny story. When our son was young he always said he's not getting married because you have to work so hard at it," Mary said.

"So I was always worried he was never going to get married."

This was, of course, due to seeing his father do so much to help his wife and kids.

But about two years ago, Mary and John's son got married when he was 37 and the two of them could not be happier.

"And he's just like his father," Mary said.

"We go to visit him and he gets done with work, he runs to the grocery store, he starts cooking and doing the laundry. So it's kind of rubbed off."

Mary and John also enjoy traveling in their retirement.

Their daughter lives in Texas and the two of them go to visit and spend about six weeks during the winter.

Last year, Mary said they also went to Hawaii, Punta Cana, Cancun and Las Vegas.

Next week they are taking another trip to Cancun with their son and his wife.

They are still very active and exercise every day, Mary said. The two live on Lake Gogebic.

When asked what John will think about Mary winning the love story contest, she said he will probably just laugh.

"I think all of our friends will get a kick out of this, too."